Should lapel pin read ‘Canada for sale’?
CANADA — On March 4, our MP Tony Clement was very visible front and centre in Parliament applauding the budget. Like his cabinet colleagues, he was wearing a grin on his face and a Canadian flag pin in his lapel. Is this Conservative affectation of wearing a flag pin simply a copy-cat case of emulating the U.S. Republican innovation? Are these politicians trying to portray themselves as uber-nationalists? Or is it perhaps simply a sign of insecurity? Most likely they are nagged by the feeling that sans the pins the Canadian public might mistake them for American congressmen. Canadians have increasing reason to mistake this government for American Republicans. In refusing to hand over Afghan detainee documents to Parliament, the Harper government is effectively claiming executive privilege — that the government is equal to or above Parliament. This is not the Canadian way; it is, in fact, against our constitution. It is the American way. Remember Nixon and his refusal to release the Wat
